On first stop of his regional tour, Secretary-General praises Kuwait’s role in supporting peace and building bridges

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met with HE Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of the State of Kuwait, on the first day of his visit to the country on Sunday.

The Secretary-General thanked Kuwait for its constructive and ongoing role in promoting dialogue in the region and its contribution to humanitarian efforts, including with regard to the situation in Gaza.

Upon receiving the Kuwait Medal of Excellence presented to him by Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad, the Secretary-General said that he was receiving it on behalf of the United Nations and in particular on behalf of the nearly 200 UN staff killed in Gaza.

He said, “I express my deep gratitude for Kuwait’s enduring commitment to peace and building bridges in the region, and for Kuwait’s generosity. I will never forget when I was High Commissioner for Refugees, when we were in dire need of assistance for Syrian refugees, and the late Emir of Kuwait hosted three conferences to support Syrian refugees, and Kuwait made the highest donation at that time.”

He also mentioned that when there were problems between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Kuwait was always a mediator and a bridge-builder. The Secretary-General told the Emir of Kuwait, “You represent a symbol of wisdom and generosity that is unparalleled in the world.”

For his part, the Amir of Kuwait affirmed that his country “will always be a supporter of humanitarian work. We are committed to continuing on this path.”